Tri Talking Sport

Irish Sailor Tom Dolan from Co. Meath has carved a most unexpected career for himself on the high seas.  Winner of the 2024 Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, Tom sailed himself into the history books as the first Irish sailor and only the third non-French competitor to win this prestigious race in its fifty five year history, cementing his position and reputation as a world class sailor. He subsequently was awarded Irish Sailor of the year in February of this year for the second time.  An unlikely career for a man who grew up on a farm in Co. Meath where Gaelic Football was the sport of choice and sailing was something he watched on TV dreaming of one day sailing the high seas. But dreams do come true and for Tom, although it was an unconventional career path and to say the least a hard graft learning all the skills, insights and intricacies of sailing he earned his stripes from the ground up.  Relentless in his pursuit of excellence, his grit, determination and resilience to embrace his passion for sailing saw him follow his heart and love of the sport to France over a decade ago. Immersing himself in one of the world's most competitive sailing environments it provide the perfect playground for Tom to flourish, hone his craft and gain vast experience to become one of the best off-shore sailors in the world.  Known as 'The Flying Irishman,' Tom's journey has been anything but smooth sailing. In this episode, he shares the highs and lows of his career, offering insight into the technical and mental demands of elite level racing, the toll of sleep deprivation and hallucinations at sea, and the vital role of a strong support team. His story is not just one of overcoming odds, but of staying true to a passion, trusting the process and proving that with commitment and belief, even the wildest dreams can become reality. 

In October 2022 at the age of 20, Laura McEvoy from Northern Ireland was involved in a devastating car accident that changed her life forever, leaving her with a spinal cord injury at L1, fractured vertebrae in her neck, and a cracked skull. Told she might never walk again, Laura refused to accept defeat. Through sheer determination and the unwavering support of her family and friends, she defied the odds rebuilding her life step by step facing life's toughest challenges with remarkable resilience and passion.  A former competitive Irish dancer and outdoor enthusiast, Laura found her way back to the activities she loved and discovered new passions along the way. From learning to walk again with crutches and AFOs to abseiling and climbing the iconic Rathlin Wall at Fairhead, she has redefined what it means to overcome adversity. Today, Laura is a passionate advocate for accessible outdoor adventure, working with organisations including; Mountaineering Ireland, Tollymore, and Accessible Adventures Ireland to create inclusive opportunities in climbing, paddle sports and hiking. She's raised thousands for The Outdoor Partnership, earned multiple climbing qualifications, and is now leading the way in organising major inclusive and adaptive expeditions, this past weekend she was part of a paddling and camping adventure on Lough Erne.  As if that wasn't enough, Laura is also making her mark on the court as a wheelchair basketball athlete for Northern Ireland, with her sights set firmly on the Commonwealth Games in 2026. Her motto, "Say yes to everything," captures the spirit of a woman who isn't just surviving trauma she's thriving and inspiring others to believe that their limits are only the starting point.

Nora 'Nono' McHugh from Galway is a true pioneer in Irish sport. She made history in 1973 as the first-ever captain of the Irish Women's National Football Team, leading her squad to a memorable victory against Wales. But her love of sport began long before that, from kicking a ball on the streets of the Claddagh to playing every game imaginable in the Swamp, her journey is one of passion, grit, and unwavering determination. Nono's sporting success spans far beyond football, with remarkable achievements across many sports including Gaelic football, camogie, badminton and more. Her dedication and contribution to Irish sport has been recognised nationally and locally with her induction into the FAI Hall of Fame last year, and more recently, she received the prestigious Galway Sports Stars Hall of Fame Award. Nono takes us on a heartfelt journey through her life, sharing vivid stories from her early days growing up in the Claddagh, her adventures in sport both at home and abroad, and the challenges of balancing athletic ambition with personal responsibilities. She reflects on the power of sport to shape identity and build community, offering her signature wit and wisdom along the way. Now in her 70s, Nono remains as active as ever, swimming daily at Blackrock in Salthill, going to the gym, and staying deeply connected to her local sporting communities. She's a firm believer that staying active and finding a supportive and encouraging community is key, especially as we age. Despite her incredible athletic accomplishments, Nono's humility shines through, for her, the greatest reward is the pride and recognition of her family. This episode is more than a celebration of Nono's life in sport,  it's a powerful reminder that passion, perseverance, and a sense of community matter at every stage of life. No matter your age or ability, there's always a place for sport in your story.

Two time Olympian Philip Doyle secured a historic bronze medal for Ireland in Rowing at the Paris Olympics with his teammate Daire Lynch. With an impressive resume that includes two World Cup Silver Medals, a World Championship Bronze and Silver Medal, and a Tokyo Olympic Semi-Final appearance, it was Paris 2024 where Philip's Olympic Medal dreams came true.  A high achiever from a young age his sporting talent saw him embrace many sports from soccer and gaelic, to cricket, athletics and swimming before field hockey became his sport of choice.  Playing it to a high level he represented Ireland at U16 in the European Championship. Off the field of play Philip's academic ability saw him graduate from Queen's University in Belfast with a first class honours in Medical Science and a Medical Degree  It wasn't until a decade or so ago that Philip first took up rowing, whilst at university, the former Abercrombie & Fitch model took to his new sport like a duck to water and it wasn't long before he was winning races and excelling in his new found sport.  In this podcast Philip shares a snippet of his life as an elite athlete, the rigorous training routines, mental fortitude and nutritional strategies required to perform at his best, all whilst balancing a demanding medical career. Additionally, he shares his recent experience of competing at Ironman 70.3 Marbella and his future aspirations in both rowing and medicine.  Balancing his passion for elite sport with the demands of a medical career, Philip exemplifies extraordinary dedication, discipline, and a relentless drive to push boundaries in both arenas. This is a compelling episode offering a window into the life of an elite athlete and medical professional striving to excel in both fields.

In September of this year, Germany's Laura Philipp was crowned the 2024 Vinfast IRONMAN World Champion in a thrilling race in Nice, France. Her rise to the top step of the IRONMAN World Championship podium has seen her achieve lots of success in a sport that was never even on her radar for many years, in fact she only learned how to swim when she was 24, something that has certainly not held her back from becoming a world class triathlete and one of the sport's most successful athletes. Her professional career took off after taking victory at IRONMAN 70.3 in Mallorca in 2016, and since then, Laura has consistently climbed the ranks, securing  titles and podium finishes around the world.  She is a multiple IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Champion, the 2022 Ironman European Champion, the 2023 IRONMAN African Champion and IRONMAN 70.3 European Champion, she finished in 3rd place in Kona last year and this year she achieved her dream of becoming the IRONMAN World Champion. Laura shares lots of insight about many aspects of her life as an athlete from the importance of aligning her training to her menstrual cycle, to balancing her fuelling needs as a vegetarian with the demands of her training and racing schedule. With her number one supporter; her husband Philipp by her side every step of the way taking on multiple roles as husband, coach, business partner and bike mechanic to name a few, she shares some snippets into life together chasing goals and the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life. Laura's happiness is infectious, she believes a happy athlete is a fast athlete, her enjoyment of a piece of cake every day important in ensuring she gets the balance right in life even at the highest level of sporting success. Her 'train smart, have fun and kick ass' mantra is one that we could all benefit from embracing as we each strive to pursue our own ambitions in sport and in life.  This episode is packed with fun and laughter, motivation and actionable insights for athletes and fans alike. Whilst we don't go into the specifics of her World Championship victory in Nice, we do get to know Laura on a personal level and discover just some of the formula of what it takes to become an IRONMAN World Champion

Paul Kaye is one of the best known and much loved voices of IRONMAN, a proud South African who from a young age was well travelled and exposed to many places, faces and cultures which helped to shape his love of travel and ability to connect with people from all around the world. His background in broadcasting and his passion for sport has seen him carve out a career in the endurance industry that saw his hobby turn into his profession and since pivoting into his role as an IRONMAN announcer he has played a significant role in raising the game for others to follow in elevating the athlete experience on race day at IRONMAN events all over the world. A two time IRONMAN, Paul returned to racing this year taking part in IRONMAN 70.3 Belgium last month. In this episode he reflects on the transformative power of sport and of IRONMAN specifically, sharing deeply personal stories of overcoming challenges and highlights the importance of having a profound 'why' to push through adversity. The episode is filled with motivational insights and underscores the unifying and life-changing impact of IRONMAN on both individuals and communities alike.    

Youri Keulen is a 25 year old professional triathlete from The Netherlands.  The eldest of triplets, he has been paving a path in sport from a young age, first as a footballer, then as a runner, where he claimed victory as a three-time national 800m champion in his teens.  Picked up by a triathlon talent ID programme in the Netherlands on the back of his running and biking ability, his dream of becoming an Olympian never materialised and shortly after Tokyo 2020 he parted ways with the Dutch National team.  Switching distances to take on his first middle distance race at IM 70.3 Maastricht in 2021 he was the fastest overall age grouper on the day, a few weeks later he made his pro debut at Challenge Peguera Mallorca and came fifth.  Since then he has gone from strength to strength with some stand out performances including; Winning IM 70.3 Rapperswil -Jona in 2022. He finished in 6th place at last year's IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and  followed that up with a win at Challenge Peguera Mallorca and Challenge Barcelona.  Earlier this year he came fourth at the T100 in Miami before a stellar performance saw him break the tape to win the Singapore T100 which changed the game for the young athlete and catapulted him into the triathlon spotlight globally.  Youri shares insight into his life as a professional athlete, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who have the same vision and drive for you as you have for yourself, and also what his plans and aspirations are not only to the end of 2024, but beyond the next few months.  A wise mind on young shoulders, Youri is excited about his future in the sport and is committed to being not only the best athlete he can be, but also the best triathlete in the world, whilst also hoping that his sporting endeavours will inspire future generations of young athletes at home and abroad. With a special connection to Ireland, through his girlfriend, former professional cyclist Imogen Cotter, Youri loves coming to Ireland and indeed loves the game of hurling, especially when Clare win.

Irish Professional cyclist Fiona Mangan from Limerick has been blazing a trail on two wheels since switching her focus to cycling in 2020.  The Biomedical Engineer was recently crowned both the 2024 Cycling Ireland Time Trial and Road Race Champion in front of a home crowd in Limerick in June of this year, adding to her already impressive CV of cycling results.  A successful gaelic footballer from a young age, she took up triathlon during her college years when she went to Atlanta on a one year student exchange. It wasn't until the pandemic struck that a real passion for cycling was ignited and from there she has excelled in the sport at home and abroad. From National Road Series winner in 2021 to becoming the first Irish woman to complete one of cycling's Grand Tours – La Vuelta Femenina in 2023, Fiona has truly embraced life as a professional cyclist.  Using Girona as her base she travels and races with her team Cynisca Cycling and when the opportunity arises and time permits she loves to come back home to Limerick to spend time with her family and friends. Still relatively new to professional cycling Fiona continues to go from strength to strength and has her sights firmly set on success in the sport, and with her French heritage it is no surprise that the Tour De France is on her bucket list!

Last weekend a team of four riders from Galway Bay Cycling Club were crowned this year's Mondello24 Cycle four person team Champions securing a new course record in the process. The team comprising of; Cathal Dillane, Ronan Burke, Liam Kilkenny and Kirill Korliakov embarked on their 24 hour cycle on the International Racing track in Kildare on Saturday at 12 midday.  A team with a diverse mix of cycling experience across a variety of disciplines, they had no experience of endurance racing, but that was all about to change. Cathal is the most experienced road cyclist of the four, cycling for over three decades with multiple race and stage wins under his belt and a Man of the Rás, this was his first time experimenting with an event of this nature. Ronan, an avid competitive road racer in recent years and Rás rider last year, had never ventured into the world of endurance cycling. Liam, a former competitive swimmer and Kirill are both fans and participants of multiple disciplines of cycling, however they were also completely new to this format of team and endurance racing which was both exciting and daunting in equal measures.  Embracing the unknown of the 24 hour challenge, the team cycled themselves into the history books of the Mondello24 Cycle event with a performance to be extremely proud of.  Managed by two time Solo Champion at Mondello24, Karen Cassidy, the team were in safe hands as she expertly steered them successfully to the finish line on Sunday midday and to a new course record. Completing 260 laps of the 3.5km track to finish with 902.2 km on the clock was a massive achievement. Whilst their endurance racing experience going into the event might have been lacking, their passion, determination and willingness to give full commitment across the 24 hours, to support, respect and learn from each other was in abundance, as was the desire to succeed, to give as much as they each individually could to the team, supporting each other on and off the track, epitomising the "all for one and one for all" spirit throughout the event. If you thought the challenge of Mondello24 was a step too far outside of your comfort zone to consider for yourself, then this chat will most definitely change your mind and give you plenty of food for thought, of what might just be possible when you gather a team of like-minded people with the same goal willing to go the distance collectively and individually.

Greg O'Shea is a proud Olympian, IRONMAN and Limerick man who spent a few short days in the Love Island Villa in 2019 and was catapulted to fame when he was crowned the winner of the hugely popular reality show with his love interest at the time Amber Gill. Shying away from the spotlight, breaking the unwritten rules of engagement post his Love Island win, Greg headed for home in Ireland to pursue a lifelong sporting dream of becoming an Olympian. With his focus firmly on achieving his boyhood dream, his drive, focus and determination saw him and his team mates achieve success as Ireland's Rugby Sevens team at Tokyo 2020.   Retiring from professional sport, Greg started to dip his toes into the exciting world of endurance sport, from cycling a stage of the Tour de France, to completing a UTMB race, he completed IRONMAN Barcelona as his first ever triathlon last October and in April of this year he completed his first IRONMAN 70.3 and only his second triathlon at IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia.  It is fair to say that the bug for endurance racing has firmly been caught. His passion for chasing goals, fitness related in particular and for inspiring people to follow their own fitness journey has seen him set up his Bettr App designed to improve the mental and physical health of its users. Whilst all might seem perfect from the outside looking in at the life that Greg has carved for himself, as an athlete, presenter and recognised name at home and beyond, a darkness descended on him not so long ago where his mental health was significantly affected. Thankfully Greg sought the help and professional guidance needed to find his way through a very difficult time to come out the other side in a much better place.  Greg now uses sport and exercise as one of his five pillars to keep him on track with his mental health.  This is a great chat with Greg who has worked hard to get where he is today, his perseverance, determination and focus have paid dividends personally and professionally, the future is bright and the world his oyster as he pursues his passions in sport, love and life! 

Triathlete Annie Brooks from the UK was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2012, in 2014 she completed her first triathlon and in October 2023 conquered the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona crossing the finish line like a boss with the biggest smile on her face.  Annie's journey in sport and in life is one of resilience, determination and courage, her positivity and passion for life and triathlon spills over through her bubbly personality despite the challenges and obstacles her health can put in her way.  With stress and fatigue a key factor in triggering an epileptic fit it is a wonder she is able to get to the startline of a race in once piece, fit and ready to tackle the swim, bike and run adventure that lies ahead, never mind get herself to the finish line of the most iconic IRONMAN race in the world in Kona.  This really is an inspiring chat with Annie, who shares a snippet of her life, living and thriving with a hidden disability, one that when it strikes, and it can strike at any time, can be so debilitating, frustrating and cause havoc to her daily living, never mind her training for triathlon which she simply does for fun and because she loves it.  It was my sister Michelle who asked me to get Annie as a guest on the podcast after Kona, she herself inspired and in awe of Annie's ability to live her life to the full despite her epilepsy. For those of you who don't know, Michelle has had epilepsy since her early teens and coupled with her cerebral palsy and the nature of her epilepsy can struggle to live life to the full.  For Michelle and I think for many of us, Annie offers a beacon of hope into what is possible if you can find the adaptations to enable you to thrive despite your own individual challenges and when you find the sport or activity that ignites such a passion in you, it can help you to pursue a life brimming with fun and adventure.  If you enjoy this episode and want to follow Annie's upcoming adventures go to her website www.talesofanniebean.com you can also follow her on instagram @itsanniebean

Lucy Gossage, Nikki Bartlett and Bex Milnes share wonderful insight into Lucy's recent remarkable Montane Spine Race achievement which she conquered in January of this year during one for the worst periods of weather the UK got this winter. Professional triathlete Nikki and her partner Bex Milnes supported Lucy's endeavours with Bex capturing images and updates of Lucy on the Pennine Way, meanwhile, Nikki turned the images and information received into an exciting socials storybook of tales from inside the race, capturing the imagination and hearts of everyone eager to follow Lucy's progress as she embarked and conquered one of the toughest foot races in the world.  Stretching 268 miles or 431km from Edale in Derbyshire, England to the village of Kirk Yetholm on the Scottish Border on the Pennine Way, if you don't know where that is, then get out your map and check it out.  Lucy gives us a glimpse of just what her preparation for an endeavour of this nature entailed as well as great insight into how her race unfolded, although we gloss over some of the intricate and technical aspects of the race, we still get to understand the remarkable journey undertaken by the 14 time IRONMAN Champion as she ventures beyond her comfort zone into uncharted mental and physical territory, pushing her limits to the brink to discover her true capabilities. In this episode, Bex and Nikki share their own version of Lucy's journey with some snippets of what it was like for them to follow the race as they closely and cautiously tracked her progress to the finishline.  As the race proceeded on the Pennine Way for Lucy, another story was unfolding behind the scenes which, when unravelled, would have heartbreaking consequences for Lucy. Resilient and robust as she is, she faced the situation head on and began picking up the broken pieces one bit at a time as she concurrently recovered from what she had put her body and mind through to reach the finishline of the Spine Race.   As you can expect, bringing the four of us together for a chat, resulted in lots of high energy, fun and laughter, the power of sport and friendship between these three incredible women as they share their personal stories of this epic adventure will certainly put a smile on your face and I have no doubt inspire you to step well outside your comfort zone!  If you enjoy this show and want to find out more insight from Lucy about her Spine Race be sure to pop over to her website www.lucygossage.com If you wish to support Move Against Cancer you can click on Lucy's Just giving page  https://www.justgiving.com/page/lucy-gossage-spine-move and while you are here tuning into the podcast, why not check out the chats I had with Lucy (Ep 26) and Nikki (Ep 8) for the podcast in 2020 and 2019 respectively!

Irish professional triathlete Aichlinn O'Reilly, set a new Irish IRONMAN record in a time of 7:59:04, finishing in 6th place at IM Western Australia in Busselton in early December of last year.  The young athlete from Mayo has been involved in the sport of triathlon on and off since he was a teenager. Moving to Perth just seven weeks before his IRONMAN race, with his committed return to the sport and his professional licence secured he is dedicated to keeping his passion for triathlon ignited and delivering performances in the sport to the best of his ability on the International stage.  No stranger to success in triathlon, the 2022 National Long Distance Champion has a trophy cabinet full of silverware with multiple podiums from his seasons of racing in 2017, 2018 and 2021. In 2016 he represented Ireland at European Cup Level and prior to that he represented Ireland at Junior European Cup Level in 2013 & 2014.  An accomplished cyclist some of his most notable cycling results include winner of the 2021 edition of the Wild Mayo 300k Ultra and back in 2017 he was the overall Rás Maigh Eo winner. A graduate of University of Limerick with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science, his interest in sport goes deeper than just his own performance in triathlon. In this episode, we dive right into Aichlinn's record-setting race getting insight into both his training in the lead-up to race day and race day itself. With his eyes set on racing on the world stage in 2024, we look forward to seeing how his season unfolds over the coming weeks and months, and if you are interested in financially supporting his journey in triathlon please do get in touch with Aichlinn directly.  

Bob Babbitt, is an icon and legend of the sport of triathlon, he fell in love with the sport when he completed his first IRONMAN in 1980 in Oahu, that day literally changed his whole life, for the better and he has never looked back.A member of the IRONMAN Hall of Fame, USA Triathlon Hall of Fame, Co Founder of Competitor Magazine and the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Bob has been involved in the sport of triathlon for almost five decades and shows no sign of stopping or hanging up his trisuit. Host of the hugely popular Breakfast with Bob he shares the incredible stories of athletes chasing their goals and dreams providing a much loved global platform to inspire others to take up the sport he so dearly loves and has dedicated most of the past fifty years to.Trailblazer, innovator, entrepreneur, storyteller, author and multiple IRONMAN, Bob is one of the greatest historians of our sport with a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity that sparks a flame within him,  his passion for triathlon isn't passive, its infectious and the entertaining stories shared about his own life in sport insights from the people he has interviewed through the years and those he has helped through the Challenged Athletes Foundation are truly inspiring. 

British triathlete Lucy Charles-Barclay last month completed a hat trick of World Titles in three years by becoming the 2023 IRONMAN World Champion, finally earning a World Title that had eluded her four times since her pro debut on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2017. Lucy has finished in second place in Kona every time she has raced there before finally breaking the tape as the IRONMAN World Champion in a World's best time of 8:24:31 last month, on a day that will be remembered in sporting history for many years to come for a whole host of incredible achievements by the over 2,000 women who participated in the first ever Women's only IRONMAN World Championship race. Lucy has been on an incredible journey in sport throughout her life, an impressive and driven athlete at a young age, her sights were always set on being the best in class in her chosen sport, whether that was swimming as her first love, to triathlon where she has excelled to become one of the most loved and best triathletes in the world.The 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, and 2022 World Triathlon Long Distance World Champion hasn't been on an easy road to becoming a Multiple World Champion. Two major injury set-backs in recent times saw her and her team seek out in genius ways to keep her on track and ensure her journey to the IRONMAN World Championship finish line this year was not derailed but was kept firmly on track all the way to the top step of the World Championship podium. Lucy's rise to sports superstar is hugely inspiring, her commitment to her craft, her tenacity, focus, determination and her resilience in the face of disappointment and adversity is something one can only admire whether a fan of the sport of triathlon or not.  It's hard not to be a fan of Lucy Charles Barclay as we  follow her life's journey in awe of her ability to continually push her mind and body to the limit in pursuit of success and achievement of her dreams. This is a great chat with Lucy who shares incredible insight into her life and loves as she regales us with stories of her journey to the top of the world.

Helen Murray is the voice behind the hugely popular podcast Inside Tri Show, she has been involved in media for many years fulfilling her goal of working for the BBC covering both the London and Rio Olympics and The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Gold Coast. She has been podcasting since 2014, going solo on her own weekly show since 2019, which has been a huge hit with her listeners across the globe.  Athlete, adventurer and all round awesome human, Helen has a special way of interacting with and interviewing people to get the best stories and most out them for her show.  It's no surprise that away from her love of media and meeting people she has carved a career for herself that she loves as a Cancer Rehabilitation Specialist with Move Charity supporting young people who are going through a cancer journey to get back to sport and exercise.  Helen has been involved in triathlon since 2011 which has seen her take on lots of races and challenges including IRONMAN Austria and IRONMAN Wales.  Her most recent adventure saw her complete the Pan Celtic Race earlier this year.  This episode was recorded in the weeks prior to IRONMAN Wales which Helen was due to participate in last month, but unfortunately her plans got side lined through appendicitis in the days leading up to the race. She does however have big plans for 2024 across triathlon, adventure and her podcast which she talks about on the show.  This is a lovely chat with Helen who simply loves sport and loves her job! Take a listen and be uplifted, inspired and energised by her outlook on life and her tenacity and commitment to achieving her goals whether personal or professional. 

Anna Grealish is the Women in Sport and Youth Programme Lead with Triathlon Ireland, she has been involved in the sport of triathlon for many years, initially as an athlete and for the past nine years as an integral staff member of the Governing Body in Ireland. Returning to racing last year following the birth of her youngest child she shares lots of insight into her role within Triathlon Ireland and some of the many projects she has been involved with.  Coach, coach developer and a driver of change, she has worked in the area of triathlon development with clubs, schools, juniors, age group athletes and coaches to develop and grow the sport of triathlon in Ireland. Anna has been central to the development of the Tri Heroes and Tri Captains programmes for young athletes.  With a particular passion for women in sport she leads the women in sport programme for Triathlon Ireland and was elected to the Europe Triathlon Development Committee three years ago, subsequently leading on a number of European projects.  As an athlete Anna enjoyed a wealth of success; National Duathlon Champion in 2011, she was the 2013 winner of Hell of the West and winner of the Triathlon Ireland National Series in the same year.  Racing at home and abroad she clocked up an impressive number of podium finishes across a variety of duathlon and triathlon races over the years, her most recent podium finish was at Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon Sprint Race in May of this year.  Away from triathlon, Anna and her husband Máirtín have a busy household with three children, Saoirse, Jude and Annie all under 8 years of age.  Sadly in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, Anna endured profound personal losses and grief, losing her mum to cancer and shortly after baby Joseph was unexpectedly stillborn at 38 weeks, both devastating losses for Anna, Máirtín and their extended families.  In this episode of the podcast Anna courageously shares her story with us on how she coped with the compounded trauma following the death of her mum and her baby, turning to sport and physical activity as a means of healing and dealing with the grief she experienced. This episode may be triggering for some listeners, but Anna's resilience and story is very powerful and may be of help to others. 

Olympian David Gillick is the Irish 400m indoor and outdoor record holder and two-time 400m European Champion who has dedicated a huge portion of his life to his sport on the running track, representing club and country on the world stage. His sporting career as an elite athlete saw him make history when he won Ireland's first sprint Gold Medal in 76 years at the 2005 European Indoor Championships.  He retained that title in 2007 and in 2008 he fulfilled his dream of becoming an Olympian. The following year he competed at the Berlin World Championship finishing 6th in the 400m final, fulfilling another significant goal he had set himself in sport. His successful athletics career was speckled with some disappointment and injury along the way and, when you consider the minute margins between winning a race and not winning over 400m you can only imagine the intense pressure cooker within which athletes at this level perform. Wrapping up his career as an elite athlete in 2013, David moved from the bubble of his life as a full time athlete with all the structure, routine and training that his life involved, into the 'real world' and struggled to come to terms with his life beyond sport. He has openly shared his struggles with his mental health and the importance of getting back to sport for him and back to running, to what he really loves.  This October he will take on his second marathon at the Irish Life Dublin City Marathon. Winner of Celebrity Masterchef and one of three finalists in RTE's Ultimate Hell Week, the father of three is a two time best selling author who is passionate about sport, food, promoting a healthy body and mind and has become a vocal advocate on mental health. This chat with David is both insightful and enjoyable as he provides a glimpse into his life in the world of sports and beyond.

Shane Williams is a household name in sport worldwide, the former Welsh International rugby player is regarded as one of the greatest wingers and players of all time. With 87 caps for his country and multiple British and Irish Lions tour appearances, it is no wonder he is a World Rugby Hall of Fame Inductee and a winner of the World Rugby Player of the Year award. Embedded in sport for most of his life, when he retired from professional rugby in 2015 his love and passion for sport continued but took him in a very different direction. Taking part in his first marathon in 2015, it wasn't long before the Welshman became captivated with endurance sport, in particular, triathlon and more specifically with IRONMAN. Somewhat cajoled into taking on his first ever IRONMAN, he didn't have far to travel to take on his first full-distance race at IRONMAN Wales in Tenby, which he has gone on to complete five times, first hearing the words Shane Williams You are an IRONMAN, in 2015. It may come as a surprise to hear that on an IRONMAN Wales race morning, he is more nervous than lining up to play for Wales in the Principality Stadium. But, the goosebumps and passion he feels as he hears the Welsh National Anthem resound on North Beach in Tenby is one that fills him full of the same pride, excitement, and emotion he had as a professional rugby player and, when the gun goes he is more than ready, willing and able to race. A high achiever in sport and competitive by nature, he is as passionate today about triathlon as he was for rugby during his playing days.  Always looking to get the best out of himself and his performance in sport, life, and in business, triathlon has opened up a whole new world for Shane Williams, and in his own words says 'I'm hooked, it makes me feel so good'.

British triathlete Ben Goodfellow took up triathlon in 2017, since then he has gone from strength to strength in the sport. In 2022 he had an incredible year of success,  winning IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire outright, he was the overall age group winner at IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea before being crowned the Mens 25-29 Age Group World Champion at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Utah last October.  Stepping up to full distance racing at IRONMAN UK in Bolton last year he finished in 4th place on debut at the distance. This year he moves from age group athlete into the professional ranks aiming to debut as a professional athlete at IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire in June.  He will continue to work fulltime as an engineer for the foreseeable future whilst he also pursues his passion for sport.  Prior to racing across the IRONMAN events in the UK last year, Ben had racked up a series of super results in recent years.  In 2021 he was the British Standard Distance Duathlon Champion, Helvellyn Triathlon Winner and Welsh Middle Distance Champion, his success coming on the back of his commitment and dedication to being the best athlete he can possibly be.  Although he was sporty as a child, as he moved through his teens he left sport behind in favour of time in the virtual world and in his own words became  addicted to gaming.  Enjoying and embracing his gaming a little too much, it was in his final year of university that he ditched the virtual world for reality and has risen steadily in the sport of triathlon. Coached by Nathan Forde as part of Team NFT, Ben's star continues to rise and I expect we will see a lot more success as Ben navigates through the world of professional sport.  Watch this space! 

British Professional triathlete Indie Lee recently kickstarted her 2023 season with a podium finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote finishing in second place, securing her slot for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland later this year.  No stranger to podiums or winning races, Indie is a three-time IRONMAN 70.3 Champion, taking the win in Weymouth in her first outing at middle distance racing in 2018, she went on to defend her title in 2019 after breaking the tape at IRONMAN 70.3 Finland earlier in the season. Since switching her focus from sprint and Olympic distance racing to middle distance racing she has found another gear that has seen her continue to excel as a professional triathlete. Racing her first IRONMAN in Israel last year she finished in sixth place which considering her short turnaround after the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Utah in October was an even more impressive result than at first glance.  Indie has been immersed in sport from a young age with running most definitely on her radar, her early success in sport saw her move to the US on a college scholarship to pursue her passion for sport. It is triathlon that she has now found as her sport of choice, having raced successfully as an age group and elite athlete, the 2016 European Triathlon Champion has gone from strength to strength as she has journeyed through the sport of triathlon as a professional athlete. This is a super chat with Indie who shares great insight into her career, her struggle at times with her own self belief and confidence all whilst embracing a career that she simply loves. Indie has an exciting future in sport ahead of her, watch this space as she continues to rise to achieve her goals in life and sport. 

Paddy McLaughlin of Podiumfit.ie has embraced a life in triathlon and sport as both his profession and his passion. Working in sport and fitness for over 20 years with a variety of qualifications, he is a Level 3 Coach, a physical therapist, Bikefit® and Gebiomized qualified Bike fitter and an athlete who has tackled some of the toughest triathlon races in the world.  Not shy of taking on a challenging race he has completed multiple extreme events including  the Celtman on three occasions,  he finished with a black jersey in the Norseman and has also taken part in The Brutal Xtreme Triathlons.  Paddy has completed over 20 full distance triathlons including multiple IRONMAN events, was the winner of the Irish Double IRONMAN in 2013 and as well as completing four marathons in four days around the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal, he took part in the first edition of The Race Around Ireland in 2009.  Sport has been in his life from a young age from karate, kickboxing and rugby to triathlon, he is passionate about sport not only as an athlete himself but in supporting his coached athletes achieve their goals and potential, it is no surprise that he was Triathlon Ireland Coach of the Year in 2015.  Shying away from the spotlight generally, he is not afraid of pushing himself outside of his comfort zone when it comes to participating in sport himself or setting lofty goals and challenges that push him physically and mentally all the way to the finish line. 

Tricia Strelioff from Canada has spent the last 20 years in Ireland embracing a life in sport.  A chartered physiotherapist working out of her practice, Maple Motion Chartered Physiotherapy in Galway, she has embraced many adventures over the years through her love of cycling and triathlon.  With her appetite for a challenge and travel, she took up triathlon just before she turned 40 and has raced at five IRONMAN events and a multitude of middle distance races since then. She makes a conscious effort to rarely return to the same place for a race, always seeking new locations to explore and enjoy. She recently raced at IRONMAN 70.3 Oman, finishing third in her age group stamping her ticket to race at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Finland in August of this year.  Triathlon and indeed cycling is a huge part of her life, the friends she has amassed over the years through sport becoming her tribe and a very important ingredient in her success in sport and beyond.  With her vibrant, energetic personality and can-do attitude you cannot but be motivated to keep moving forward, chasing and achieving goals when in Tricia's company.  This is a great episode of the podcast, slightly different to many of our other episodes but the perfect guest choice to celebrate International Women's Day

Irish Olympian and World Champion Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan has been blazing a trail in gymnastics since first taking up the sport as a young boy, and despite the lure of swimming and football, he knew from an early age that gymnastics was the sport that would capture his heart and his mind. He has had huge success in the sport and his star continues to rise as he performs intricate, technical and fast paced routines on the pommel horse.  With a trophy cabinet bursting at the seams he was Ireland's first gymnast to win medals at European and World level and to reach an Olympic final.  Some of his key achievements include; becoming World Champion on the pommel horse and winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games last year.  In 2021 he competed in his first Olympic Games in Tokyo finishing seventh in the final. Prior to that Rhys has won bronze in the World Championships in Germany and won Gold at the World Cup in Slovenia in 2019. In 2018 he became European Champion and Commonwealth Champion.  In 2016 as a junior gymnast he won the first European Championship medal in history for Ireland, taking silver on the pommel horse at the Junior European Gymnastics Championship. Based in Dublin, Rhys along with his coach Luke Carson, have one golden goal in mind over the coming months, that is winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  At 24 years old Rhys is determined, committed and dedicated to his craft, his love of gymnastics and passion for success driving him to strive every single day to be the best gymnast he can possibly be. 

Ten years on from the London Olympics she has certainly come into her own as a force to be reckoned with over ultra distance running as one of the best Ultra Marathon runners in the World. Securing the bronze medal in the IAU 100km World Championships last year she also added a gold in the 50km European Championship to her name. She completed her 100km race in 7.07.16 and set a new national record for the distance whilst also setting a new 50-mile record too!  She has previously finished on the podium in third place at the Comrades Marathon, the ultimate Human race and hopes to go as well if not better at this event in 2023.  In June 2021 she won the Anglo Celtic Plate at Mondello Park with an impressive 7.43.01 in the 100km race. In addition to her Ultra Running success, Caitriona has also racked up wins and podium finishes at the marathon distance, breaking the tape at the 2022 Great Limerick Run she also finished third at the Hong Kong Marathon in 2021 and has over the years secured multiple national titles across a range of running distances.  By her own self-admission, it took Caitriona a long time to get over her performance in London, where she endured a stress fracture during the race, despite the injury it is no doubt her grit, determination and inner drive to succeed saw her cross the finish line on the day.  Her finish time was far from where she had hoped or expected, but it's that steely determination, unwavering focus and commitment to her craft that has seen her take ultra running in her stride and deliver results that 10 years ago she couldn't even have imagined.  This is a super episode of the podcast with a shining star that I have no doubt will continue to excel for many years in the sport she loves. 

Winner of the 2022 Seven Sisters Skyline in Donegal covering 55 kilometres and 4,000 metres of climbing in a time of 8:37:20 she won the race with a thirty-six minute gap over her nearest rival.  She was also the winner of the 200km Kerry Way Ultra and was also one of only three participants out of twenty-eight in the fourth season of RTE's Ultimate Hell Week who passed the gruelling week-long test of mental and physical endurance.  In addition to a successful year in 2022, she won the National Adventure Race Series in 2021 and in 2018 she was the Triathlon Ireland National Series Winner.  The mum of two now back home in Kerry after a decade of living in Meath lives in the foothills of the Kerry Way, the perfect training ground for the athlete who loves to push the boundaries of her comfort zone and relishes the opportunity to compete at the best of her ability. At the time the podcast was being recorded the Art O'Neill Challenge was on the horizon, Ellen went on to win the 2023 edition of the arduous running and hiking challenge defending her 2022 title in style, kick-starting her season this year on the top of the podium!  With an appetite for adventure and success in sport and in life, a steely determination and herself confessed stubbornness, I expect we will see many more podiums and wins for Ellen Vitting in the future! 

Racing with their respective guides Anne Paul and Catherine Sands the girls had some great results in 2022.  Some highlights for Chloe include; 2nd at A Coruña Para Cup in June and 4th place at the Turkey Para Cup in October, rounding out her season with a 5th place finish at the Abu Dhabi World Championship in November.  Judith was 1st in The National Championship in May, 3rd at A Coruña Para Cup in June and 4th at the Alhandra Para Cup in September.  The sisters have a form of albinism which affects their vision but does not affect their commitment or dedication to their chosen sport. Taking up triathlon only a few years ago they have gone from strength to strength. Having participated in sport from a young age in Karate and then in para-rowing whilst at University, the sisters have found their forever sport in para-triathlon and are giving it everything so they can to make it to the Paralympics in Paris in 2024.  They are each other's sisters, best friends, inspirations, advocates and rivals, supporting, encouraging, inspiring and motivating each other to be the best athletes they can be, all whilst providing much inspiration to the people around them as they embark on this exciting journey in sport. This is a great episode and one in which at the end of it you will definitely be inspired to simply give something that may be out of your comfort zone a try. 

Winner of the Joey Hannon Triathlon, TriAthy Sprint, Hell of the West, Blackwater Olympic and Worlds End Triathlon, she was 2nd female at IRONMAN Ireland 70.3 in August, finished 3rd Elite Irish female in the National Sprint Championship and took home the silver medal in the Standard Distance National Championship as well this year.  With a background in football she took up running in her late teens, excelling in cross country and track running however,  it was an injury to her foot that sidelined her running and saw her take up swimming whilst recovering from that injury.  Dedicated to getting stronger and faster in the water with an unorthodox make-shift swimming pool at home during the pandemic, when the pools reopened and life started to get back to normal, she got picked up by the Triathlon Ireland Talent ID programme and her sporting success continued to flourish.  An all round high achiever across her studies and sport it is no surprise that Shauna has excelled in triathlon, her success coming on the back of consistent commitment, dedication, drive and discipline in her quest to achieve her goals whether academic or in sport.   It hasn't been an easy road for the young athlete who has her sights set on achieving significant success in sport in the coming years. In this episode Shauna shares some insight into her life, from the injuries and health battles she has faced and overcome to become the athlete she is today, to the sheer elation of crossing the finish line of a race and everything in between. 

Taking on a middle distance triathlon for the first time this year, Ciara came away with the bronze medal in the National Middle Distance Championship at Tri Tyrone and, in a fine display of her running ability she also took home the silver medal in the National 5k and 10k Road Racing Championships this year. She has also represented Ireland at a variety of multisport events in recent years. Considering she couldn't swim when she took part in her very first triathlon in 2013, she has come a long way and spent a lot of time in the pool to become competitive in the water, instead of hanging onto the toes in front of her she is regularly the one leading the pack and pushing the pace at the front of the race.Coached by her partner Dan of Performance Science Ireland, Ciara has embraced sport as a way of life, consistently training and racing to the best of her ability whilst juggling her job as a teacher, her commitment and dedication to her life in sport is quite inspiring. In this episode Ciara shares some insight into her life as an athlete, the highs as well as the lows of  training and racing, it's rarely plain sailing in sport and some days simply getting to the finishline of a race is a victory in itself! 

Taking up triathlon at the age of sixteen, the now thirty-one-year-old has successfully raced triathlon at home and abroad and despite the rollercoaster, she has been on in life and sport she has picked herself up, dusted herself off and kept going when the going got tough.Battling physical and mental struggles with food and her health it is a wonder she is still training and racing, however she simply loves triathlon, it is part of her DNA as is sport. Grit, stubbornness, determination and passion are key attributes required for success in sport and Ailbhe Carroll has all of this in abundance, add in her positive outlook, fun and bubbly personality and it's a great recipe for success. This episode provides a powerful insight into her life as an athlete and the struggles she faced with her health both in the past couple of years and also as she recovers from two bike crashes in quick succession in recent weeks which ended her 2022 season prematurely. 

He was the first athlete to win both the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in the same year in 2011, is the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal for service to sport and the community and earlier this year became an IRONMAN in Australia Hall of Fame inductee.One of the greatest ever triathletes, his softly spoken and gentle manner give no indication of the level of tenacity, commitment and determination it took for him to reach the top of the sport and stay there for many years. From his first professional race in 1995 right through to his retirement in 2014, Craig found another gear, another level and was not afraid to dig deeper and deeper into the hurt locker to succeed in a sport that he is eternally passionate about and grateful for the career and success it has afforded him.   Now retired from professional sport, he still races, albeit sparingly and maintains a high level of fitness.  In 2019 he won the Australian Long Course Championships aged 46, twenty years after capturing his first National Championship Title. He spends his time with his family, supporting them and many of his children's sporting endeavours as a father and a coach. He is an author, broadcaster and shortly after retirement from professional sport launched his own training, health and lifestyle brand, Sansego which keeps him busy, as well as being an ambassador for a variety events, brands, charitable causes and foundations, his passion for sport knows no bounds. This is a super chat with a simply incredible person, the show is longer than normal so maybe fill the kettle rather than just making one cuppa and chill out whilst you are inspired, educated and motivated by one of the all-time greats of triathlon and sport. 

An incredible achievement for the author, advocate, coach and all-round inspirational athlete who has achieved more in sport than many of us can only dream of.  In addition to her fourteen IRONMAN World Champion titles, she is a four-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, a WTC Female Athlete of the Year,  A multiple USA Triathlon Female Grandmaster of the Year, An Inductee to the USAT Hall of Fame and in 2020 was inducted into the Port Angeles High School Athletic Hall of Fame for her success in Badminton.  Cherie truly embraces the life of an athlete, living and breathing the sport of triathlon. When she is not training for her own races she is using her passion, dedication and commitment to triathlon to help change the lives of children in inner-city San Bernardino in California. The Exceeding Expectations Foundation which Cherie founded has for 20 years been encouraging at-risk children to move their lives in a positive direction, using the sport of triathlon as the vehicle.  Cherie is softly spoken, yet her tenacity, courage and determination is stronger than many people half her age. She is a shining star in sport and in life, her age may be slowing her down physically in sport but her appetite for life and for success shows no signs of slowing down. She may have made her final appearance on the finish line in Kona in 2022, but we can expect to see her on plenty more finish lines before she stops racing altogether. This is a truly inspiring episode of the podcast and if you ever thought you couldn't do something or that you are too old to try something new then, Cherie is the epitome of 'you can do anything you set your mind to, you just have to give it a try'. 

In August 2021, Nathan was leading the British National Triathlon Championships when he suffered life changing injuries in an accident during the cycling portion of the race.  The injuries sustained were so severe it was touch and go on the side of the road immediately after the accident and indeed it was touch and go for Nathan for the first few weeks in hospital as he embarked on an incredible journey of recovery and rehabilitation.  Told by doctors he would never walk again the prognosis for Nathan was bleak, he spent over half a year in hospital, 14 weeks of that time in a halo brace.  At times the will to give up was stronger than the will to survive, but somehow he managed to pull himself out of the darkness. Inspired by his wife Catrin, his athletes on Team NFT and the huge outpouring of support received from at home and abroad, Nathan found the courage and strength to fight back, to fight for his life to fight to be the best version of himself for the future whatever that future might hold.  Fast forward to a little over a year after his accident and Nathan is working hard, extremely hard EVERY Day to make improvements in his mobility, dexterity and  aspects of life that many of us take for granted. His tenacity, fighting spirit and determination have paid off as he is every day defying the odds and is quite literally a miracle man, his athlete mindset driving him forward bit by bit every day.  This is a fascinating episode of the podcast and may for some be upsetting in parts, Nathan is incredible, there are few words that can do him justice in describing what he has achieved in his fight for his life, he really is a true inspiration. If you would like to support his journey to recovery and help him please check out his go fund me page on the link HERE. 

Tom was the third fastest age group athlete at IRONMAN UK last year and in 2019 he was fifth fastest overall and second in his age group at IRONMAN UK earning him a hard-earned and coveted slot for the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona.  Taking up triathlon seven years ago or so, he raced IRONMAN UK in 2015, as a 'one and done' but he is far from done! He did take a bit of a break from racing triathlon to focus on cycling in recent years, where he has also had significant success, however, he missed the fun, camaraderie and friendship of training and racing with his friends and teammates at Tri Preston and so has returned to triathlon. With consistency in training some great training partners and steely determination Tom has enjoyed super fast times and significant improvements in performance in recent years.  2022 was a big year for Tom, despite a late start to his triathlon season, it has been his most successful to date, breaking the tape at IRONMAN 70.3 Cork was the icing on the cake.  In this episode, we get some insight into Tom's approach to training and racing whilst working a forty-hour-a-week job as well as balancing family life with his wife Kerry and two children Evelyn and Sophie – who join us on the show for a couple of minutes.  Together Tom and Kerry are embracing triathlon as a way of life for their family, Tom may be the athlete standing at the start line of a race but Kerry is a key part of Tom's success and together they enjoy and endure the sport of triathlon and long-distance racing as a team. 

An outpouring of love, support and gratitude was shared across the world for Mike after his announcement, much deserved for the man who in Kona, Hawaii coined the phrase, YOU are an IRONMAN, four words that have become synonymous with triathlon, endurance sport and of course with IRONMAN.  Mike has called thousands of athletes across the finish line across a multitude of triathlon and endurance events around the world over the past 40 years but the four words that mean the most and have inspired athletes around the globe are those sacred ones he says after an athlete completes an IRONMAN of a 3.8k swim, 180k bike ride and 42.2k run - You are An IRONMAN. In this episode, Mike gets a lovely surprise to see and hear some familiar faces from his IRONMAN Announcer Ohana (Family) who drop in from around the world to share some memories and stories of fun times with Mike over the years.  Huge thanks to Paul Kaye, Eric Gilsenan, Pete Murray, Whit Raymond, Alain Cyr and Tony Lugo for joining the live show and making it extra special.  Mike may be hanging up his IRONMAN microphone at the end of this season, but his legacy on the IRONMAN finish line will go on forever. 

In this episode, the athletes share some of their backgrounds in sport, from GAA and athletics to swimming, badminton and hockey.  They give us some insight into their race and experience in Cork,  from their individual highlights to the epic nature of Windmill Hill to advice for people taking on either the 70.3 or Full Distance event in the future.  All four athletes have been successful in the sport of triathlon from race wins, to overall age group podiums, World Championship qualification and everything in between. Deidre, Ellen, Graham and Enda are all high achievers in sport who have worked hard to get that sporting success whilst holding down full-time jobs and balancing life outside of triathlon, which for many age group athletes is very difficult to achieve.  This is a great episode of the podcast giving you a flavour of what it takes to not only race well in Cork and beyond but also how to enjoy the experience of stepping up to middle and long-distance triathlon and get the most out of yourself and your performance for a result that you can be proud of regardless of the distance.

Taking up cycling and indeed ultra-cycling in recent years, she has completed the Joe Barr 200 twice and the TJB Coastal 330 as well as taking on the Wicklow 200. She took part in the Donegal Ultra 555k as part of a 4 person team so was no stranger to hills, hard cycling and long days in the saddle for this challenge despite only taking on her first solo ultra event in 2018.  Similar to the hills of Donegal, Patricia's training ground; her life before cycling was filled with massive ups and downs, but the biggest uphill battle for her was becoming sober and building a new life from the depths of depression and despair.  In this episode, Patricia bravely shares some insight into her life, her resilience and courage shining through. The friendship, camaraderie and sense of purpose the whole new world of cycling has given her, it is no surprise that she loves being on her bike and part of such a supportive community, and in her own words, she says 'Cycling Saved My Life '. 

Gabriel's curiosity and fascination with exploring and adventure has seen him take on an Arctic Circle Expedition as well as an epic 3,200 km cycling adventure on the EuroVelo this year. His enthusiasm and cando attitude, along with his genuine interest in people and helping them succeed will have you signing up to your own adventure before you have time to say the words freedom and fun.  Humble in his approach, taking adversity in his stride, he is one of the good guys and, if you are planning to take on your own adventure or step outside your comfort zone to achieve something you previously thought impossible, then this episode might just be the one to encourage you to go and find your self confidence and belief in yourself that you can do anything you set your mind to. 

Working as a speech and language therapist in the NRH in Dublin, sport is not only her passion but it's also her outlet for fun, socialising and delivering some standout performances including; runner-up placings in the Triathlon Ireland National Series in 2018 and 2019. She went on to win the Triathlon Ireland National Duathlon Series in 2019 and was runner-up in the Duathlon National Championships that year.  Winner of the Hardman Bantry Middle Distance race in 2020 and Hardman Waterville Middle Distance race in 2021 she successfully executed a great performance in only her third middle distance race at IRONMAN 70.3 Marbella in May of this year to finish as fastest female age group athlete on the day stamping her ticket to the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Utah later this year.   Racing her bike as part of the All Human VeloRevolution cycling team since 2020, her cycling trophy cabinet is also bursting at the seams with the Team prize at The 2020 National Cycling Championships.  In 2021 she was second in the Cycling Ireland National Road Series, the Irish National Hill Climb Championships, and took home runner-up in the Best Irish Rider Classification at Rás na mBan.   Coached by Olympian Gavin Noble of HupHup, a former guest on the show on episode number 50,  Becky is thriving in triathlon and with her spot secured for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in UTAH in October, her eyes are firmly on a solid performance in the States and similar to her training partner Hilary Hughes, Becky may seek to secure her pro card post World Championships.  An exciting prospect not only for Becky but also for the sport of triathlon in Ireland as these female athletes represent not only themselves, their club and country on the International stage but they provide the inspiration and example for others to follow as they embark on their own personal journeys in sport.   Becky's passion for life, sport and fun is infectious, her positive outlook and determination to succeed coupled with her desire to never stand still,  has seen her thrive and achieve her sporting goals and ambitions from a young age, and I have no doubt there is a lot more success to come for Becky Woods in the future. Watch this space. 

With 24 hours of cycling around the 3.4km (approx.) track, riders could race as a solo, two, four or eight-person team for the event.  I was thrilled but apprehensive to have been selected as a rider for the Cycling Ireland Women's Commission who had entered a team of eight riders from across a diverse background of ability and experience into the event.  In this episode you will meet our team riders: Emma, Keela, Sharon, Hannah, Dearbhlá, Laura and Grace along with our team managers Alison and Colin who share lots of insight to our weekend of racing from the build-up and training to logistics, fuelling, racing full gas, recovery and of course the craic from the track!  It was one of the best weekends of the year so far,  as you will hear on the show, the cycling was intense but the laughter and camaraderie was mighty! We had a great weekend of fun, friendship and fast racing. A big shout out to all the riders and crew who support them, to take part in the second edition of Mondello24.  The event this year was just as exciting as the October edition of last year with lots of riders returning to test their metal over 24 hours as a solo or two-person team having participated in larger teams last year, others participated for the first time this year and embraced the challenge that lay ahead!  Congratulations to everyone who took part in the event with a special mention to the solo riders and especially to the girls racing solo at the event! There was great excitement on and off the track, I was very lucky to experience both sides of the track this year as a rider and as part of the Mondello crew announcing the event and taking over their Instagram for the 24 hours of the event. There was lots of talking and cycling done over the weekend.  If anyone tuning in to the show is interested in taking part next year please get in touch and we can share more insight and tips on how to enjoy rather than endure this super ultra-cycling event! Well done again to everyone who raced, roll on Mondello24 in 2023!

Her journey has ebbed and flowed along the way, but Katie has powered through each obstacle, winning multiple medals and accolades, Katie represents Ireland in the PR2 W1x category and is a member of Galway Rowing Club, she previously rowed for UCD, whilst studying to become a Vet, her second passion in life, rowing being her first. She took up rowing in 2013, after successfully rowing for a number of years she took a break during her college years and upon her return has once again begun to excel in the sport.  She won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, prior to that she finished 6th in the A Final in the World Rowing Cup in 2013 in Eton, she has also won gold at the Henley Women's Regatta and at the Home International Regatta and has also set two world records on ERG, the first in 2015 over 1km the second over 2k in 2021. Katie's positive attitude and passion for success sees no stone unturned in the pursuit of her goals in sport and in life. Her determination is fierce and her focus is fixed, there is no stopping her, she is a star on the rise and this Galway girl is going all in on her pursuit of a gold medal at Paris 2024. 

A European and World Champion and in 2016 at the Rio Olympic she secured Ireland's first medal in sailing since 1980. She became the Female World Champion at the Moth Worlds in July 2017 and later that year joined the ' Turn the Tide on Plastic Team, for an adventure of a lifetime in the Volvo Ocean Race.  In recent times, Annalise has been tearing up the tarmac, trails and gravel on her bike taking podium spots across a variety of bike races, she is one to watch  as she has already demonstrated a natural talent for cycling, racing and going full gas on two wheels. Her cycling successes include finishing 5th in the National TT Champs in 2021.  She also finished second in the Galway Classic behind Eve McCrystal a few weeks ago and last week was crowned champion of the Orwell Wheelers Women's League.  Currently studying for an MBA in Trinity, removed from the constraints of life as a full time athlete, Annalise has been embracing her love of sport, adventure, fun and people to the maximum.  Highly competitive in nature, dedicated and committed to her craft, tenacious and ambitious, yet humble in her success, the world is at her fingertips.  In this episode she shares a fascinating insight into her life that will give you plenty of food for thought as you embark on your next challenge or adventure, whatever that may be. 

This is a special edition and bonus episode of Tri Talking Sport where Helen Murray, host of The Inside Tri Show and I collaborated on a special one-hour live show called the ' Tri Commute' on Friday 20th May, celebrating some of the fastest long-distance triathletes in the world! Our guests on the night were; Kat Matthews, Ruth Astle, Laura Siddall, Fenella Langridge, Nikki Bartlett and Hilary Hughes. This is a supercharged power hour of insight, inspiration, entertainment and great conversation all whilst having fun!

Other notable results include National Middle Distance Champion 2019 and 2021, National Duathlon Champion 2021, Individual Pursuit Champion 2018. At the Ironman 70.3 World Championships held in St. George last year she placed 3rd in her age group and has had multiple Age Group Wins across Ironman Lanzarote 2021, Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote and Ironman 70.3 Dublin in 2019. Coupling her passion for medicine and her love of sport Hilary has been on a journey of juggling time, training and energy in recent years to be the best she can be in both her professional and sporting career. Taking time out from medicine to focus on her sporting career was a big decision and one she didn't take lightly but one that clearly has paid dividends in terms of her racing performance. Her passion for sport is infectious as is her laugh, this episode of the podcast provides a glimpse into Hilary's life as she shares plenty of nuggets of inspiration that are sure to fire up your own passion and energy for your chosen sport.  We laughed our way through this episode, but behind the laughter and the fun stories, Hilary Hughes is a determined, courageous and spirited athlete who will leave no stone unturned or any preparation to chance as she goes all in to be the best athlete she can be! Watch this space, there's a whole other chapter to be written by Hilary as she embraces her life in sport in the coming years.  

A two time National Marathon Champion, taking the 2018 title at the Dublin Marathon and the 2021 title at the Belfast Marathon whilst also winning this race outright, he is no stranger to being crowned a National Champion.  He has 11 national titles to his name, the most recent of these, his second at the 10k distance at the Great Ireland Run in March 2022.  Hampered by a niggling injury over the past few years, the pandemic brought about an opportunity for Mick to step back and take time out to get the strains and at the time an unknown stress fracture healed. He is now getting back into his stride and is on track to being back at full tilt in time for this year's Dublin Marathon in October where he will aim to defend his National Marathon Championship title and go faster than his marathon PB of  2:13:19 set in Dublin in 2019.   With a young son at home and new arrival due in July, Mick loves spending time outdoors with his family, with his running clients for whom he is a coach, or with his club mates on a run, or more likely competing against them in a race.  The key to his success? Consistency in training, getting the balance right in terms of training, racing, lifestyle and having fun. Mick alongside his coach Dick Hooper work in partnership to deliver the results we consistently see Mick achieve and, although not every race has gone his way, when Mick Clohisey is on the start line of a race you know you are going to see some superb running and a great result. 

Embracing the tri life, sport has become a huge part of his every day. He has raced nine IRONMAN events since first dipping his toes into long-distance triathlon in Mallorca in 2014, his so-called ' one and done' plan quickly put to the back of his head after enjoying the challenge of going long.  Catching the IRONMAN bug he has gone on to race in Lanzarote, Wales, Barcelona and raced at Kona in 2017 finishing sub 10 on the Big Island. In just a few short weeks he will race in Lanzarote before heading to Kona once again to embrace the island and the 2022 World Championship event.He has coached multiple IRONMAN finishers, World Championship qualifiers, race winners, ITU national representatives and some of the most talented age group triathletes across the country.  Dad to 4 children he juggles daily life with his wife Roisin in Newry who is a coach and member of Newry Triathlon Club.  He is the resident coach on the Team RWB Monday night social Zwift spins where we spin away an hour on the turbo every Monday night from 7:30pm. In this episode, Oliver shares his journey in sport, his passion for chasing goals himself and supporting his athletes to do the same.  He gives us some top tips for embracing your race, from training and race day prep to getting your fuelling right and the importance of having fun and enjoying the process of getting not only to the race start line but most importantly the finish line. 

The 2018 Commonwealth Games athlete has had some superb results since taking up triathlon in 2010, including being crowned the National Sprint Distance Champion in 2016 at just 17 years of age. He finished 3rd U23 male at the 2019 ETU Aquathlon European Championships finishing in 6th place overall in the ELITE men's race on the day. It's not just triathlon that James has excelled, his swimming and running results are also very impressive.  From a young age he has shown great depth and power to his performance and ability in sport.  In 2020 he was both the Ulster and Northern Ireland 5k and 10k Champion, which are both impressive in their own right, however it hasn't been plain sailing to the podium for James. Having endured no less than eight, yes eight stress fractures in his foot in recent years it is a wonder he hasn't thrown in the towel on sport or indeed on triathlon, but he continues to remain highly motivated, committed and determined to succeed in the sport that he has in recent years fallen in love with. We have seen some great results from James Edgar but I believe the best is yet to come and with the amount of 'hard graft' as he says himself, consistency in his training, his approach to life as an athlete, coupled with his can do and will do attitude, we will see his appetite for success building to deliver many more great days and results across swim, bike and run.

Taking on the mammoth task in May of this year they are each no stranger to uphill battles be it in sport or in life. Damian, a former guest on the podcast is an avid extreme adventurer, and explorer whose fascination with exploring the world has seen him embark on quite a few life-changing adventures. Listen to his episode (No 12) on the podcast to get a glimpse into his life of adventure and ability to push his boundaries to the extreme. Fergus has bravely fought a battle for his life after an accident in 2018 left him with a 5% chance of ever walking again, but battle he did.  He fought hard to overcome the challenges and obstacles he faced in recovery in learning to walk again. Setting small goals along the way he achieved his primary goal of being able to walk and just one year after his accident walked from Athenry in Galway to the NRH in Dublin, a journey of 206km on foot that would see him achieve a massive goal that he had set himself only weeks after his accident had left him with little hope of ever setting two feet on the ground again.  Together Damian and Fergus are a formidable force, focused and determined, they have left no stone unturned in their quest to row home from America.  With one eye on the successful crossing of the ocean the other eye is on a World Record that although hasn't been broken for over 100 years could just be within their reach. Regardless of the record, with a little luck and some kind weather from mother nature, a successful row across the 4937.47km of the North Atlantic will see them enter the ocean rowing history books and they will be the talk of their home town of Galway for many years to come, leaving a lasting legacy for others to follow and be inspired by. 

Mia, a former Kilkenny Camogie player came to cycling through the Cycling Ireland Talent Transfer programme and swapped her hurley and sliotar on the GAA pitch for a bike, fast racing, an indoor track just five years ago and has never looked back. Alice is a swimmer, turned triathlete, who took to crit racing before trying her hand at track racing. Both cyclists now race as part of the Irish Track cycling team and as part of team IBCT on both the road and the track.  Alice a former National Irish Road Champion in 2019 and Mia who won Bronze in the Individual pursuit in the U23 European Track Championships in 2020 are part of the Irish Team who claimed a bronze medal in the 4km Women's Team Pursuit at the European Track Cycling Championships in Switzerland last year setting a new National Record in the process along with team mates Kelly Murphy and Emily Kay. Currently based in Belgium, Mia and Alice are living, training and racing together as they pursue their passion for cycling and focus on getting to Paris in 2024. The team mates have a friendship and camaraderie that sees them encourage, inspire and support each other to be the best that they can be in sport and in life.  Watch this space! The Irish girls are powering up the pedals to go full gas pursuit of their goals and dreams. 

In June of last year she raced in the Europe Triathlon Aquathlon Championships where she took home a bronze medal in the Elite Women's race and a silver medal in the U23 Women's race,  an important result for the then 20-year-old Newtownards athlete who is hoping to secure a start at the Commonwealth Games later this year and has her eyes firmly set on Olympic qualification for Paris 2024. Other impressive results include Sprint Triathlon National Champion Elite and Junior Women in 2019, she finished 3rd in the Triathlon Ireland Aquathlon National Championships in the same year.  In 2018 she took home the silver medal in the Triathlon Ireland Elite Women's  Sprint Triathlon National Championships and claimed the bronze medal in Bucharest in the ETU Triathlon Junior European Cup. Balancing her training, college life and working to support the pursuit of her ambitious sporting goals is almost a full-time job itself, but she has fully committed to chasing her goals and living the lifestyle to support them.  Erin Mc Connell is a dedicated and determined athlete, behind her steely determination is also a desire to have fun and enjoy the process, embracing the opportunity to follow a passion for a sport that she enjoys to the full. Watch this space, Erin, has the world at her feet and is ready to soar and fly the flag for her club and country on the International stage.

Other accolades held by Eoin include being crowned the 24 hour and six-day Irish running champion.  As well as placing fifth in the World 24 Hour Running Championships, he has also finished fourth in the European Championships.  In May 2017 he set a world record by running the entire length of Ireland, 555km from Mizen Head to Malin Head, in three days, three hours and 47 minutes, taking 12 hours off the previous record held for this feat.  From mountain running to adventure racing, marathons to multi-day endurance running events, Eoin Keith has firmly placed himself as a name synonymous with success in endurance sport and a name to be reckoned with.  When you stand on the start line up against Eoin it's not just his fitness, running and endurance ability that you are battling, you are racing against an athlete who tactically and strategically is one of the sharpest on the circuit. His mental resilience, preparation and attention to detail, coupled with his ability to suffer make him the strong and successful athlete he is today.  This is another great episode of the podcast packed full of insight with a glimpse into what it takes to go to battle on some of the toughest running races in the world and come out on top!